Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Premature hair greying may predict reduced bone mineral density in Graves’ disease

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Premature hair greying has been associated with low bone mineral density (BMD), and it may be more frequent in Graves’ disease.

Aims

To determine whether premature greying is associated with reduced BMD in women with Graves’ disease and in control women, and to examine whether premature greying is more common in Graves’ disease.

Methods

Premature greying (>50% grey by 40 years) and BMD were determined in 44 women with a history of Graves’ disease and 133 female controls referred for routine BMD measurement. Exclusion criteria included diseases or drugs known to affect BMD.

Results

Mean Z and T scores at the lumbar spine were significantly lower (P<0.04) in subjects with premature greying than in those not prematurely grey among women with Graves’ disease, but not among control women. Multiple regression confirmed this difference between Graves’ and control women (P=0.041). There were no differences at other measurement sites. Of Graves’ patients, 36% were prematurely grey compared with 25% of control women (P=0.14).

Conclusion

Premature greying may be a weak marker for reduced BMD in women with a history of Graves’ disease, but it is not a marker in normal women.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Keogh EV, Walsh RJ. Rate of greying of human hair.Nature 1965; 207: 877–878.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Rosen CJ, Holick MF, Millard PS. Premature greying of hair is a risk marker for osteopenia.J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994; 79: 854–857.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Orr-Walkcr BJ, Evans MC, Ames RW, Clearwater JM, Reid IR. Premature hair greying and bone mineral density.J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997; 82: 3580–3583.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Beardsworth SA, Kearney CE, Steel SA, Newman J, Purdie DW. Premature greying of the hair is not associated with low bone mineral density.Osteoporosis Int 1999; 10: 290–294.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dawber RPR. Integumentary associations of pernicious anaemia.Br J Dermatol 1970; 82: 221–223.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ortonne JP, Mosher DB, Fitzpatrick TB. Vitiligo and other hypomelanosis of hair and skin. Plenum Medical Book Company, New York and London, 1983; p. 207.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ortonne JP, Mosher DB, Fitzpatrick TB, Vitiligo and other hypomelanosis of hair and skin. Plenum Medical Book Company, New York and London, 1983; p. 473.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cline DJ. Changes in hair colour.Dermatol Clin 1988; 6: 295–303.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Leary AC, Grealy G, Higgins TM, et al. Long-term outcomes of treatment of hyperthyroidism in Ireland.Ir J Med Sci 1999; 168: 47–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Compston JE, Cooper C, Kanis JA. Bone densitometry in clinical practice,Br Med J, 1995; 310: 1507–1510.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Franklyn J, Betteridge J, Holder et al. Bone mineral density in thyroxine treated females with or without a previous history of thyrotoxicosis.Clin Endocrinol 1994; 41: 425–432.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Grant DJ, McMurdo MET, Mole PA, Paterson CR. Is previous hyperthyroidism still a risk factor for osteoporosis in post-menopausal women?Clin Endocrinol 1995; 43: 339–345.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Vanderpump MPJ, Tunbridge WMG, French JM et al. The incidence of thyroid disorders in the community: a twenty-year foiow-up of the Whickham Survey,Clin Endocrinol 1995; 43: 55–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Ralston SH. The Genetics of osteoporosis.Quarterly J Med 1997; 90: 247–251.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Statistics, Shandon Clinic, Cork

    N. Buckley

  2. University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

    D. G. Barry

  3. Department of Medicine, Cork University Hospital and University College Cork, Ireland

    A. C. Leary, G. Grealy, T. M. Higgins, N. Buckley, D. G. Barry & J. B. Ferriss

Authors
  1. A. C. Leary
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Grealy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. M. Higgins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. Buckley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. G. Barry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. J. B. Ferriss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. B. Ferriss.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leary, A.C., Grealy, G., Higgins, T.M. et al. Premature hair greying may predict reduced bone mineral density in Graves’ disease. Ir J Med Sci 170, 117–119 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03168823

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03168823

Keywords

Search

Navigation